The non-racial Federation of South African Unions (FOSATU) was banned from raising funds by a proclamation in the Government Gazette on 6 June, under the Fundraising Act. FOSATU officials understood this as barring them from raising finance overseas or from FOSATU's 14 affiliates, with 45,000 members.
FOSATU applied in December 1979 to the Department of Social Welfare and Pensions for temporary permission to raise funds and was told the Department was waiting for a reply from the Department of Manpower Utilisation. Commenting on the proclamation the Minister of Manpower Utilisation said that no money could be allowed to come from outside to facilitate strikes.
